London midday: Earnings come in mixed as investors watch US data, Fed
31st Jul 2014 12:04
- Shell, BG Group and Intu lead the risers - Weir, Schroders and Lloyds fall - Afren drops after suspending directors - US data and Fed keep investors cautious techMARK 2,763.54 -0.57% FTSE 100 6,763.04 -0.15% FTSE 250 15,495.73 -0.86% London stocks were trading in the red for a second straight da
Read moreLondon open: Stocks flat as investors digest corporate earnings
31st Jul 2014 09:15
- Lloyds falls despite H1 profit beat - Shell, BG, BT and Diageo rise after results - Weir and Rolls-Royce disappoint - US data and Fed in focus techMARK 2,771.22 -0.29% FTSE 100 6,777.11 +0.05% FTSE 250 15,521.52 -0.69% Another wave of corporate earnings was keeping investors busy on Thursday mor
Read moreLondon pre-open: FTSE to rise after Fed takes dovish stance
31st Jul 2014 07:40
The FTSE is set to open around 15 points higher at around 6,788 following mixed sessions in both the US and Asia overnight, which came after the Federal Reserve signalled that interest rates were unlikely to move before next summer. The Fed said in a statement that labour market conditions had impr
Read moreBT earnings per share robust during modest first quarter
31st Jul 2014 07:10
First-quarter revenues were down at BT but underlying figures were more positive and profits were 7% higher than the same period last year. "We have made a good start to the year," said Chief Executive Gavin Patterson, keeping his guidance for the full year and pointing to cost cutting continuing
Read moreBT launches mobile phone service for businesses
17th Jul 2014 11:18
BT has confirmed its return to the mobile market with the launch of a new service for smaller businesses that integrates staff mobiles with land-lines. BT said its new One Phone service would bring together a company's office phone system and mobile phone needs into a single system. The group said
Read moreWoodford reveals top 10 holdings dominated by pharma and tobacco
8th Jul 2014 13:21
Highly influential fund manager Neil Woodford has revealed the top 10 stocks in his new £1.6bn Woodford Equity Income fund, including new favourites Imperial Innovations and Rolls-Royce. The university technology spin-out group and the aircraft engine-maker did not feature in the manager's previous
Read moreLondon midday: UK stocks rangebound on NYSE holiday
4th Jul 2014 12:12
- FTSE flat but at highest since June 10th - Dow, S&P at record highs after jobs report - US markets closed for public holiday today techMARK 2,857.08 +0.18% FTSE 100 6,864.83 -0.01% FTSE 250 16,096.91 +0.42% UK stocks were trading within an extremely narrow range on Friday morning as traders sat
Read moreLondon open: Markets subdued on quiet end to week
4th Jul 2014 08:58
- Quiet start, US markets closed - No economic data on tap - Airlines in focus after traffic stats techMARK 2,855.35 +0.12% FTSE 100 6,856.48 -0.13% FTSE 250 16,051.76 +0.14% After hitting a three-and-a-half week high the previous day, UK stocks opened slightly lower on Friday in a quiet end to a
Read moreBT protects against 'longevity risk' with new pension arrangement
4th Jul 2014 07:59
Telecom titan BT has reached a deal with the trustee of its mammoth pension scheme to protect the company from increased costs linked to "potential increases in life expectancy". The longevity insurance and reinsurance arrangements cover of 25% of the BT Pension Scheme's (BTPS) total exposure to "i
Read moreBroker tips: Persimmon, BT Group, Kier, Ocado
2nd Jul 2014 12:31
Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers said that housebuilder Persimmon "continues to make hay while the sun shines" as it reported a solid second-quarter trading update on Wednesday. "With accommodative monetary policy underpinning the housing market, interest rates unlikely to rise markedly for now, an
Read moreOriel downplays pension deficit concerns at BT, sees buying opportunity
2nd Jul 2014 10:51
Oriel Securities has downplayed concerns about a rising pension deficit at BT Group after a Financial Times article suggested that the telecoms company could face higher payments. The FT cited analysts as saying that after a nine-month review of the £47bn pension plan - the largest private-sector d
Read moreBroker tips: Land Securities, BT Group, DS Smith
26th Jun 2014 13:05
Deutsche Bank said that Land Securities' £656m purchase of a 30% stake in shopping centre Bluewater will likely lift valuations of shopping centres across the UK. Land Securities said that overall net initial yield after the expiry of rent-free periods is 4.1%. However, Deutsche Bank estimated th
Read moreBT Group has "potential to re-rate further", says Credit Suisse
26th Jun 2014 11:59
BT Group's shares have the "potential to re-rate further", according to Credit Suisse, which added the stock to its 'Europe Focus List'. The bank repeated its 'outperform' recommendation and 440p target price for the shares, saying it bullish outlook for the company remains intact after the recent
Read moreLondon open: UK stocks jump post-Fed, Rolls-Royce gains
19th Jun 2014 08:30
- Fed tapers by $10bn a month - Yellen says rates to stay low - UK retail sales, US jobless claims on tap - Rolls-Royce unveils £1bn buyback techMARK 2,823.77 +0.67% FTSE 100 6,827.27 +0.72% FTSE 250 15,752.09 +0.82% UK stocks rose strongly on Thursday, helped by some decent gains from Rolls-Royce
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Berkeley Group, BT Group
19th Jun 2014 08:06
At an 8% dividend yield shares of Berkeley Group pose a bit of a puzzle to investors. Usually such a high yield signals that the market has doubts about the company. On the other hand, however, its shares trade at nearly twice the net asset value, which is as silly a valuation as it is expensive.
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